Why do dogs lick obsessively?
”I just wanted to know why does my girl constantly lick my girlfriends dogs face and her sisters dogs face. It’s weird because she really goes for it and tries to get their lips etc. She shows alot of dominant behaviour around them though e.g. Ears up, hair on end, tail dead stiff and looking from the side etc trying to get proper eye contact and showing the white of her eyes. I heard the lip licking was a submissive behaviour so i’m quite lost. It’s almost as if she’s obsessed with it and shes always trying to get in my girlfriends dog and her sisters dogs face by doing it. I’m not sure if I should stamp it out or jsut let her get on with it etc? Any ideas guys?”
”hmm its strange because my girl is really not submissive at all shes doing lots of dominant features which I said previously. So i’m a bit lost
”
”yeah i believe that she does just want to be friends with other dogs she seriously does like their company but she goes about it the wrong way..i think she wants to be around other dogs but is saying hey dont try any funny business etc….”
”Sorry back to the thread again. The licking is still going on but now they are licking/nipping each other. Not hard but it’s strange I really do want to resolve this and find out why as I don’t want to cause any long term damage.”
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1.
Hajar | December 19, 2011 at 8:03 pm
What are the breeds, ages, sexes, entire or neutered?
Is this a multi dog household?
2.
Augusta | December 19, 2011 at 8:03 pm
My girl is 9 years old and the other is a male nearly 3 I believe. They are both staffies. No not a multi dog household but he’s around alot and so is another staffie but she doesn’t seem to do it to him.
3.
Derek | December 19, 2011 at 8:03 pm
I would just leave them to it, unless its causing stress to one or the other dog/s, my lot all do it, its part of there daily cleaning/bonding -
my older girl will pin the others down and lick there mouths,teeth,ears and anything else she can get her tongue on.
4.
Sylvia | December 19, 2011 at 8:03 pm
Yeah I was just worried she might be bullying him or something as she did used to be D.A. He used to let her do it now he does it back it’s strange.
5.
Luthando | December 19, 2011 at 8:03 pm
When you meet someone new, why is it that some people are very chattty and easy to get on with and others are more reserved and aloof, yet others may be unfriendly and others might fall over themselves to become your friend or keep out of your way?
its just beaause its the way they are.
I believe people try far to hard to "read" a dogs behgaviour and often base their efforts on some pretty old fashioned and limited thinking.
On occasion some people have tried to define normal dog communication and body language into simplistic things lick "lip licking with lowered head is a sign of submission" – I agree it could be, but it could also be lots of other things depending on the dogs relatiosnhip and the context.
WHen you kiss someon does it mean you love them? Does where you kiss them mean anything about your relationship? I know I have kissed people at Weddings that I have never seen before nor since and who I wouldnt recognise if I ever saw again.
I would only worry if it causes trouble between your dogs – then it is owrth anamising methinks.
6.
Madeleine | December 19, 2011 at 8:03 pm
So true,
i was a little worried at the weekend,
i took Tye to the gap show,he’s a 4-5 months old bull breed,
and on meeting other dogs -he was displaying what i thought was dominant behavior, tail up and ridged – full body ridged,
it was only after a while i realized it was his way of meeting and greeting other dogs, as none of the other dogs took it as him being dominant at all.
7.
Hala | December 19, 2011 at 8:03 pm
Not only that chook. What if the other dogs just didn’t rise to the challenge?